I welcome the Bill published by Deputies Ó Broin and Funchion on behalf of Sinn Féin. I have discussed it in the context of Fianna Fáil’s Residential Tenancies (Rent Pressure Zones and Student Accommodation) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill. Somewhere between those two Bills, there is certainly a way forward. We all agree there is a major issue with student rents. I commend the USI and the student unions from DCU, NUIG and other universities which brought this to the fore. It was initially brought to the fore in DCU and followed on in Cúirt na Coiribe in NUIG. It is incumbent on us to act. That is why this Bill, if married with others, is useful. Much of what the Minister of State stated is broadly positive. However, her speech was missing specifics on delivery dates. On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I fully agree with Deputy Ó Broin’s suggestion that the Government’s Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill, which will be brought forward over the coming weeks, should contain a section to deal with student accommodation. Not to speak on behalf of all Opposition parties, but if that is not forthcoming from the Government, the Opposition parties can bring forward and pass an amendment to that Bill. The Minister of State criticised one aspect of the Sinn Féin Bill, namely, the absence of a definition of "student accommodation" because the Bill refers only to "a license for student specific accommodation". To be helpful to all sides, the Fianna Fáil Bill defines student accommodation. I am not sure why we are waiting for the Attorney General's advice on student accommodation. Our Bill stated "tenancy under subsection (4) also applies to the use of student accommodation as defined in section 13(d) Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 during academic term times." The Government and the law defines what purpose-built student accommodation is. We can start with that. That would be an eminently sensible suggestion. I discussed with the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, some time ago what advice in particular we are looking for from the Attorney General. Is it the treatment of a licence arrangement vis-à-vis a tenancy? What we and Sinn Féin have proposed is to actually treat the licence as a tenancy agreement. I am not sure what we are looking for from the Attorney General. We have given a definition for student accommodation under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016. Time is of the essence. There has been progress made in the provision of purpose-built units. Deputy Adams rightly referred to 32,000 purpose-built units. The Minister of State stated that, by way of the national accommodation policy document, there will be a further 21,000 units. While this is all good, how do we regulate the price people will pay? I disagree with the Minister of State that price is solely a function of supply and demand. That basically is a Fine Gael mantra of leaving it to the market. I accept supply does affect price. However, it does not mean the Government cannot intervene. In fact, the Government has intervened with rent pressure zones, an intervention which has worked to some degree. We can try it with student rents. I do not see why we need to wait. I agree with the spirit of the Sinn Féin Bill which we will support. The Minister of State alluded to the fact that the Government will not oppose it on Second Stage. That in itself is welcome. The question is what we do next. In June, when the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill comes forward, the Government should bring forward an amendment to it. I do not believe that would be bad law. We have definitions and there is an opportunity for everyone across the House to work on it. It would show the student body that the Oireachtas is serious about dealing with students' problems. I have met students who have had to leave or could not go to college because they could not afford rents. No Member or the Minister of State responsible wants to see that. I respectfully suggest the Minister of State talks with the Department and the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to bring an amendment forward. If the Government does not do so, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and other parties will work together to ensure the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill is amended to include student accommodation.

See this item in context